“Bloody hell?”
“Bloody hell!”
A string of profanities erupted one after another from inside the steel mill, along with some local dialect that Lu Zheng could not understand, though the short, sharp syllables suggested they meant much the same thing.
To collapse an army of over a hundred men single-handedly, what kind of concept was that?
If it were not for the recent years of conflict with the Third Brother that had reignited the fame of the Xingguo trio, Lu Zheng could have been worshipped as a god.
Even so, the people inside the steel mill who were observing the situation outside now looked at Lu Zheng with awe, as if they had witnessed a miracle.
When it was confirmed that there was no danger, Lin Wan led the few people behind her to Lu Zheng’s side. At the same time, the large iron gate of the mill’s inner yard was hurriedly opened, and a group of Chinese walked out, protected by a team of local guards.
…
The events that followed were straightforward.
Lu Zheng and his group were welcomed into the steel mill and received an enthusiastic reception.
Lu Zheng had originally thought he would need to fight a few more defensive counterattacks, since the rebel main force had surely occupied the town and would not tolerate this steel mill that had cost them such heavy losses.
Yet unexpectedly, that very afternoon, instead of a second rebel assault, they awaited the arrival of the Tanzanian national defence forces stationed on the northwest border.
After all, the incident was too serious!
The attack on the steel mill was, in some respects, even graver than the rebels occupying the town. Under certain pressures, the Tanzanian border forces responded swiftly. Without yet retaking the town, they first rushed to secure the steel mill.
Naturally, Lu Zheng could not overstep, so he and his party of five were escorted across the border into Rwanda that same afternoon.
…
“Too thrilling!”
“Too terrifying!”
Even after entering Rwanda, Li Ying, Zhao Xiaodao, and the little assistant were still buzzing with excitement mixed with lingering fear.
They could not quite describe how they felt, only that they had certainly broadened their horizons, yet they truly did not wish to experience anything like it again.
The little assistant patted her chest, which rose and fell like Zhao Xiaodao’s sisterly one. “What happened today, I can boast about for the rest of my life!”
“Enough. We have toured the great grasslands, seen the animals, even experienced a gun battle, and seen dead bodies.” Lu Zheng shook his head and sighed. “Let us buy tickets and return home quickly.”
The others nodded repeatedly.
At that moment, Zhao Xiaodao’s phone suddenly rang in her bag.
“Xiaodao, Xiaodao! Are you still in Tanzania?” her agent asked.
Zhao Xiaodao, “…”
Less than a day had passed since the group’s gun battle in the town, yet her agent had already heard about it. Quite fast.
Zhao Xiaodao reassured her. “Don’t worry, I am not in Tanzania now.”
“That is good! That is good!” Her agent let out a breath of relief. “You have no idea. Tanzania is at war. They even attacked one of our country’s factories. It is terrifying.
“You wanted to travel in Africa. You should have gone to Morocco or Pharaoh Country. Why go to a place with anti-government armed forces!
“As long as you are not in Tanzania, that is fine. Where are you now, by the way? Remember you are about to join the crew. Hurry back. The script reading for the production, as the female lead, you must be there!”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Zhao Xiaodao nodded perfunctorily. “I am in Rwanda now. I will return tomorrow.”
“Why are you in Rwanda?” Her agent sounded baffled.
“Because we just crossed the whole of Tanzania.” Zhao Xiaodao said. “We experienced rebels storming the city, then were escorted across the border by the border forces.”
Agent: ???
…
After spending one night in Rwanda, the group transferred flights back to the country, arriving in Haicheng just one day before the holiday ended.
Zhao Xiaodao took her little assistant to join the new crew, while Lin Wan and Li Ying returned to work.
As for Lu Zheng, naturally he…
“Young Master, Young Master Zhao returned a few days ago and came to invite you to a banquet, but you were away at the time.”
Seeing Lu Zheng return, Uncle Li hurried forward to report the recent events.
Apart from matters concerning the Sweet Food Studio and the sugar refinery, there was only the news of Zhao Wenrong returning to Tonglin County and hosting a banquet.
“I see.”
Lu Zheng nodded. As expected, Zhao Wenrong would now settle in Tonglin County for good, so upon returning he naturally had to host a banquet to entertain relatives and friends in the county.
However, Lu Zheng was not close to the others and had gone to Yizhou Prefecture anyway, so he had not intended to attend Zhao Wenrong’s homecoming banquet.
Emerging from the rear courtyard, Lu Zheng noticed that Yue Honghai was out as usual, while Tu Yuqing was still reading in the side courtyard, presenting a picture of tranquil years.
Next door, Liu Qingquan was doing her homework, but Tu Yujiao was nowhere to be seen.
“Has Tu Yujiao gone out to play again?” Lu Zheng could not help asking Tu Yuqing.
Tu Yuqing nodded. “She cannot stay in one place for long. She has gone to Rongzhou to have fun.”
“Alone?”
“Alone.” Seeing Tu Yuqing nod, Lu Zheng was speechless. “You are not worried?”
“Why worry?” Tu Yuqing set down her picture book and looked at him strangely. “Third Sister has, after all, over five hundred years of cultivation. Who among ordinary people could harm her?”
Lu Zheng slapped his forehead. He had momentarily fallen into a misconception, misled by how often Tu Yujiao played with Liu Qingquan.
She was, after all, a century-old fox spirit no less than Yue Honghai. Why would she need anyone to worry about her?
So Lu Zheng promptly changed the subject. “Is your elder sister still at Taohua Ping?”
Tu Yuqing nodded and sighed. “She has not returned for three days. Last time she came back, she dragged me out to perform a street play.”
Lu Zheng looked at Tu Yuqing sympathetically. Having such an elder sister and younger sister was indeed quite helpless.
